Electric signal lamp



Oct. 22, 1929. H, w, CNES Er AL 1,732,970

ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP 'Filed Nov.11, 1925 2 sheets-sneer 1 Z0 l] fI'NVENTOR:

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Oct. 22,A 1929. H. w, JONES p -r AL 1,732,970

ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP Filed Nov. 1l, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct.1.929

" UNITED( STATES PA'isN'i' oFFicE HOHER W. UONES AND RALPH R.'SMITH, 0FJ'ACKSN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 'T0 NATIONALCARBON COMPANY, INC., ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP Application led November11, 1925. Serial No. 68,413.

This invention relates to electrical signal devices, and moreparticularly to a unitary battery hand lamp adapted to be used forsignalling urposes,fas by the police for regulating tra c at night.

The primary object of the present invention is' to provide a simpleunitary illuminated signal device adapted to be conveniently carried inthe palm of either hand of the operator and to be easily operated by histhumb.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel case andmounting for the several parts of the lamp to render them easilyaccessible, and to provide a novel hook and band construction on thecase to hold'tlie latter in its proper position on the operators hand.

Other features andadvantages of the invention will be made clear by adescription of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment Fig, 3 is a rear view of thesignal device;

and A Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, views of the front, top andbottom of the cell-supporting frame and the case section carrying it.

Broadly speaking, a hand signal device einbodying the present inventioncomprises a battery case adapted to be carried 1 n and secured to anoperators hand by suitable attaching means M on one side ofthe case. Theopposite side of the case carries a lamp Land a switch S is disposed onthe upper edge of the case so that the operator may close thelamp-and-battery circuit by operating the switch with his thumb when hewishes to lash the lamp.

Referring to the drawings, a case A adapted to carry all the parts ofthe hand signal device may consists of complementary front and rearsections 10., 11 joined together ermanentl along one edge by a hinge 12and ocked at t e other edges by a depressible catch 13. The front 10ispressed out as at 10 to provide a boss forming a chamber 14,'

cular opening to receive the shell 17 that carries the switch S. saidshell being soldered or otherwise secured in the recess in the frontsection and projecting into the casing. The switch S may consist of adepressible button 18 forming an enlarged head on a stem 19 that has awasher 20 secured to its lower end, as by a reducedpart 21 on the stemthat lprojects through the washer and is, riveted over. A spring 22bears againstthe inside bottom of the shell 17 and against the underside of the button 18 to restore the latter to normal position after ithas been depressed, and the stem 19 projects through and is guided by anapertured neck 23 in the bottom of the shell. The washer 20 is carriedby the stem outside the shell and is of larger diameter than theaperture in the neck 23 so that/ the washer limits the outward movementof the push-button.

The push-button is operable to connect the lamp L in circuit with thebattery through a conductor D which is securedto the inside of the frontsection 10 by a rivet 25 but insulated therefrom by suitable insulation26, One resilient arm 27 of the conductor projects opposite the lampsocket 15 to be engageable by the center lamp contact, while the otherresilient arm 28 projects beneath the end of the stem to be depressed bythe latter into contact with the spring cell terminal or contact 29secured to the frame F that carries the battery cells. The side of thearm 28 adjacent the switch stem is covered by an eXtension of the strip26 to insulate it from said stem. l The cell-supporting frame F ismounted on the inside wall of the rear casing section 11 and may be ofany suitable design to carry two dry cells side by side in seriescircuit with one another, with one pole of theseries-connected cellselectrically connected to the casing and the other pole ,electricallyconnected to the terminal contact` 29. As

shown, theframe F comprises a U-shape bracket 30 secured thereto butinsulated therefrom and having upper and lower limbs 31, 32, the limb 31comprising an arm 33 having the terminal 29 secured thereto butinsulated therefrom. The other arm 340i the limb 31 is spaced from thearm 33, and the contact29 projects opposite the space between said armsso as to be engageable by the depressible arm 28 that projects oppositesaid space perpendicular to the contact 29.y The' lower limb 32 providesa bearing for a member 35 that-has two resilient arms 36 and 37, the arm36 being electrically in circuit with the cell thereon and the arm 37being insulated from the cell which it supports. The container electrodeof the latter cell may be connected directly to the casing by aconductor strip 39. The secured end of the contact 29 is engageable bythe center carbon pole of the cell which has its zinc containerlelectrode disposed on the arm 36, and the arm 36 is electrically incircuit with the arm v' 34 that is engageable by thecenter pole of thecell that rests on the arm -37 whereby the cells are electricallyconnected in series through the U- shape member 30'. The cells areindividually removable and replaceable, and by closing the sections 10,11 together the arm 28 is moved into place above the contact 29 so thatthe lamp may be flashed by depressing-the button 18,

In order to secure the casing to the hand of 4 an operator, attachingmeans M are provided on the rearvof said casing. The said meanscomprises a band 40, preferably of elastic material, fastened at one endto a hook 41, and

`at thelower endto a plate 42. Another slotted plate 43 is provided to'receive the hook, 41. The plates 42, 4 3 may be secured to the outsideof the case section 11 by the rivets 44 which secure the frame F to theinside of said section.

The operation of the improved signal deviceis self evident-from theforegoing description and the drawings. By inserting yfour fingers ofeither hand between the casing and the elastic band 40, the thumb of thehand holding the device isv in position to operate the push-button. Thedevice is desirably placed in front of the palm of the hand, where it isheld firmly in placeby the band, but for some 'purposes it may also beused on the back of the hand. The' button operating the control switchlocated on the top ofthe casing is easily actuated by a slight pressurefrom the operators thumb. When the switch is depressedthe end of thestem 19 engages the, end ofthe conductor 28 and forces 1t againstcontact 29 to completethe electrical circuit from the cells. to thelamp. It will be observed that the switch and lamp are substantiallywithin the outline of the casing to avoid damaging them.

While a preferred construction isv illustrated and described, it is tobe understood that variations may be made without departing fromthe-scope and spirit of the `invention. r

We claim: 1

1. A battery hand lamp comprising the combination of a hinged two-partvcasing, a lamp mounted on the front wall ofl one part of said casing,aconductor secured to said front wall having a part disposed to beengaged by said lamp and a part extending opposite the upper wall ofsaid casing,

cell'supporting means mounted on the other part of said casing andhaving a terminal, and a switch operable to electrically connectl saidterminal and last-mentioned .part of said conductor.

A2. A battery hand lamp comprising the combination composed ofcomplementary hinged. members, a' lamp mounted on the front wall of onememberof said casing, a conductor secured to said front wallhaving apart engageable bythe center contact of said lamp and a part extendinginwardly opposite the top wall of said casing, cell supporting meansmounted on the other member of said casingand having a terminal, and aswitch disposed within the outline of the top of said casing andoperable to depress the last-mentioned part of said conductorintogcontactwith said cell terminal.

-3. 'A battery hand lamp comprising 'thel combination of a casing, meanson the rear wall thereof for securing it to a support, cell supportingmeans carried by said wall and having a terminal, a lamp mounted on thefront wall of said casingya conductor having a part engageable by thecenter contact of said lamp and a part disposed adjacent said terminal,and a switch operable to deflect the last-named part of said conductorto electrically' connect the same and said terminal'. o

4. A battery hand lamp comprising the combination of a casing consistingof front 1`15` 5. A battery hand lamp as claimed in claim '4, in whichsaid sections are hinged to one another, said conductor is securedinside said front section, and said switch comprises a,

f housing secured in one of said recesses and tures.

projecting Within said casing.

v.6. A battery hand lamp as claimed in claim 4, in which said sectionsare hinged together and the recesses are in the upper Walls of thesections, said cell-supporting means comprises a frame arranged tosupport two cells side byvside, ysaid' conductor is secured inside saidfront section above said-lamp, and said` switch comprises :i housingsecured in one voil? said recesses 'and projecting into said casing undincludes a depressible member adapted to move said conductoi` partagainst said terminal, which latter i's secured to said cellsupportingframe. t

In testimony Wliereo, We affix our signa- HoMER W; JONES. RALPH R.SMITH.

